Volvo recalls station wagons over exploding airbags

Ridgeville, SC – November 7, 2021 – Volvo (OTCMKTS:VLVLY) has recalled 194,546 cars because the driver-side airbag may explode and hurt shrapnel at vehicle occupants when deployed. This increases the risk of injury or even death for the occupants of the vehicle.

The recall follows on the heels of another recent Volvo recall due to the same issue and includes the following station wagons:

  • 2001 – 2007 Volvo V70
  • 2001 – 2007 Volvo XC70

Recall summary  

The Volvo V70 and Volvo XC70 airbag inflators under recall, built by German-American parts’ supplier ZF,  have a similar problem to the infamous Takata airbag — moisture, over time, corrodes explosive tablets inside the airbag inflator.

The degraded tablets, which are only supposed to explode hard enough to fill the airbag with gas, create a much larger explosion than intended. This may destroy the inflator and send its pieces flying through the vehicle with great force, resulting in an injury to its occupants.

Background of the recall

For background of this recall, please refer to this article.

Recall risks

The risks posed by this defect match those in the Takata airbag recall: Shrapnel from burst airbag inflators can cause injuries that sometimes resemble gunshot or stab wounds, and can be fatal. Takata airbags have killed at least 28 people worldwide. 

The repair

All owners of vehicles in this recall are entitled to a free airbag replacement from a Volvo dealer. Notification letters with more instructions will be sent out on December 14.

Recent Volvo recalls

Volvo recently recalled over 259,000 cars that are also subject to this ZF airbag hazard.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 194,000 vehicles are included in this Volvo airbag recall. To run a Volvo recall check on your car, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolvo recalls station wagons over exploding airbags

Volvo recalls sedans over exploding airbags

Ridgeville, SC – October 22, 2021 – Volvo  (OTCMKTS:VLVLY) has recalled  259,383 cars because the driver-side airbag may explode during deployment, sending dangerous shrapnel flying at vehicle occupants. The recall includes the following sedans:

  • 2001 Volvo S60 
  • 2002 Volvo S60
  • 2003 Volvo S60
  • 2004 Volvo S60
  • 2005 Volvo S60
  • 2006 Volvo S60
  • 2007 Volvo S60
  • 2008 Volvo S60
  • 2009 Volvo S60 
  • 2001 Volvo S80 
  • 2002 Volvo S80 
  • 2003 Volvo S80 
  • 2004 Volvo S80
  • 2005 Volvo S80 
  • 2006 Volvo S80 

Recall summary  

Airbag inflators protect drivers and passengers in the event of a crash by burning fuel inside the inflator and inflating the airbag.

The inflators in this Volvo airbag recall degrade over time because of moisture and high temperatures, among other factors. The degraded chemicals generate a much bigger explosion than intended “during deployment”, bursting the inflator into pieces, which can fly through the vehicle cabin at high speeds and impale occupants. 

This issue is eerily similar to the infamous Takata airbag but the inflators in question were made by a different supplier, German-American parts’ manufacturer ZF. 

Background of the recall

In June 2019, Volvo became aware of one driver who died from an exploding ZF airbag. That death, which is now the subject of a lawsuit, touched off a 54,000-car recall in November 2020. This early recall only covered some of the models now under recall, and only those in hot or humid regions, where the explosives are known to degrade faster.

In late September, Volvo deemed the airbag defect “critical” and initiated the larger recall. The recall applies to cars in all regions of the U.S.

Recall risks

The risks posed by this defect are nearly identical to those in the Takata airbag recall: The metal airbag inflator, blown to pieces, hurls shrapnel at high speeds into the bodies of vehicle occupants. The resulting injuries sometimes resemble gunshot or stab wounds, and can be fatal. Takata airbags have killed at least 28 people worldwide

The repair

All owners of vehicles in this recall are entitled to a free airbag replacement from a Volvo dealer. Notification letters with more instructions will be sent out on November 29.

Recent Volvo S60 recalls

Volvo recently recalled over 19,000 cars – including the 2021 Volvo S60 – over a seatbelt issue affecting children. The company also recalled over 85,000 cars – including the 2020 Volvo S60 – with defective fuel pumps this summer.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 250,000 US vehicles are included in this Volvo recall. To check if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolvo recalls sedans over exploding airbags

Volvo recalls SUVs and wagons for defective airbag system

Ridgeville, SC – January 25, 2021 – Volvo  (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has recalled 2,883 vehicles  whose supplemental restraint system (SRS) control unit – an important safety component – may become detached during a crash, affecting the performance of safety systems such as airbags. The recall includes:

  • 2021 Volvo V60 and V60CC wagons
  • 2021 Volvo V90 and V90CC wagons
  • 2021 Volvo XC60 compact SUVs
  • 2021 Volvo XC90 SUVs

Recall summary  

Volvo’s recall addresses a manufacturing error that may cause the SRS control unit to detach during a crash, affecting multiple crash safety systems. If it is disconnected, the SRS control unit may not properly activate airbags, tighten seat belts or disconnect the car’s high voltage battery, putting vehicle occupants at higher risk of injury. 

The defect can be traced to a 12-day period when the Swedish manufacturer failed to properly measure how tightly they screwed in the SRS control units. 

Risks

In a crash, airbags can reduce vehicle occupants’ risk of fatal injury by 11%, but only if they are functioning properly. Airbags that deploy improperly or do not deploy at all, can’t protect drivers and passengers from impact and could lead to injury or death.

The drivers may be alerted to the potential issue if the SRS warning light comes on and “a text message “Service Urgent” is displayed,” according to NHTSA.

The repair

Volvo dealers will inspect the screws holding the SRS control unit to the car and will tighten them if necessary, at no charge to owners. Owners will be notified with more information about the recall starting February 19. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 3,000 vehicles are included in this Volvo recall. To see if your car is one of them – and if Volvo V60 Cross Country is included – use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolvo recalls SUVs and wagons for defective airbag system

New Volvo Recalls Target Faulty Air Bag Systems

Volvo is taking on several different 2017 vehicle models due to air bag problems that could put occupants at risk.

According to Consumer Affairs, these vehicles could fail to deploy air bags when sustaining damage. The source said these issues could represent a lack of compliance with multiple standards.

The main thing this recall affects is the passenger side air bag. Since the inflator igniters in these vehicles might not properly prompt the air bag, the fix will replace them entirely. This should leave the vehicles with better protection systems. The affected models include Volvo S60 and V60 vehicles, as well as the Cross Country versions of each of these and the XC60 vehicles.

Many of these vehicles were also involved in a previous recall pertaining to seat belt issues announced last November.

adminNew Volvo Recalls Target Faulty Air Bag Systems

Volvo Issues Recall Over Side-Curtain Air Bag Defect

Rockleigh, N.J. – Mar. 21, 2017 – Volvo Cars has recalled more than 5,500 vehicles due to a serious side-curtain air bag defect. The recall impacts Volvo S90 sedans manufactured between November 2016 and January 2017, as well as V90 Cross Country and XC90 luxury sports utility vehicles produced over the same span, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Defect

The bolts securing side-curtain air bag structures in these models are likely to break due to manufacturing error. Hydrogen embrittlement is the primary cause, an issue that arose due to variability in the bolt fabrication process. Once applied, the fasteners quickly deteriorate, showing signs of failure within 48 hours installation. Fixtures that manage to effectively secure side-curtain air bag assemblies for at least 48 hours are deemed structurally sound, while those that fail or falter must be replaced.

The defect poses serious safety risks, as the side-curtain air bags may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. No injuries have been connected to this defect.

Timeline of Events

Engineers at the Swedish automaker first caught wind of the defect in early February, when a report chronicling the discovery of broken bolts in one vehicle was submitted to corporate. Volvo representatives investigated the event further and found that the fasteners had come from the side-curtain air bag assembly. The automaker then contacted the parts supplier, Autoliv Poland, and reported the issue.

On Feb. 10, Volvo’s Critical Concern Management Team elected to start the recall process. The internal group then blocked new vehicles containing the faulty bolts from shipping out three days later. Volvo notified the NHTSA officials and dealers Feb. 16.

The Solution

The automaker has ordered dealers to replace the bolts free of charge, according to NHTSA documentation. Owners are expected to receive notification April 1.

MotorSafety.orgVolvo Issues Recall Over Side-Curtain Air Bag Defect